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Watch: Panthers defenseman takes shot to the face
Florida Panthers defenseman Josh Mahura. David Kirouac-USA TODAY Sports

Watch: Panthers defenseman takes shot to the face vs. Maple Leafs

Florida Panthers defenseman Josh Mahura exited Game 2 against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday after taking a puck to the face, leaving him a bloody mess. 

Near the end of the second period, a William Nylander wrister went wide of the Panthers' cage, making direct contact with Mahura's face at eye level as he circled the back of the net in pursuit of Maple Leafs' forward Alex Kerfoot. 

Aside from Mahura, Kerfoot seemed to be the only person on the ice to realize the gruesome injury, tapping his stick on the ice to get the referee's attention.  

Thankfully for Mahura, his visor took the brunt of the impact. Still, he was understandably shaken and left a puddle of blood behind him as he exited the ice. The frightening scene makes it hard to imagine the damage done if Mahura played during a time when visors were optional for players. 

The recent scare with Mahura is the latest such incident during the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Last month, Morgan Barron of the Winnipeg Jets took a skate to the face against the Vegas Golden Knights, which required 75 stitches. 

Because he's a hockey player, Barron ultimately returned to the game after getting stitched up. The Panthers hope Mahura can make a similar recovery and avoid missing time as the team attempts to get past the Leafs and advance to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 1996.

Mike Santa Barbara

Mike Santa Barbara is a Wilmington, Delaware native (Yes, it's a real place) with over a decade of sports writing experience. A diehard Philadelphia sports fan, he has two dogs named after Flyers and cried real tears when the Eagles won Super Bowl LII. You can follow him on Twitter at @mike__sb

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